HSUS foie gras lawsuit dismissed

A New York appeals court has dismissed a lawsuit by the HSUS challenging a US$420,000 grant to the largest foie gras producer's farm expansion programme.

The lawsuit was brought by the Humane Society of the United States against New York state challenging a $420,000 Empire State Development Corp. grant to Hudson Valley Foie Gras in southern New York.

Hudson Valley plans to expand from 250,000 ducks to 325,000 to meet demand for its product. It is reported that the company, which has committed US$ 1 mln to the project, sought the grant to improve manure treatment and ventilation systems.

The HSUS, as well as 6 individual members of the group, petitioned the state to withdraw the grant. The case was taken to the appeals court when it was refused. The court ruled that the plaintiffs did not have legal standing to bring the action, except for one plaintiff who lives near the farm who could challenge the state for not performing proper environmental reviews. Even then, the court suggested that the expansion at issue did not necessarily require an extensive environmental study.